Elevated contamination levels persisted for decades at the former Naval Arctic Research Station at two sites in particular, the Airstrip and Powerhouse sites. Because of the challenging environmental conditions at these sites, physical and chemical remediation technologies have not been effective at reducing petroleum contamination levels. Therefore, the continued presence of the contamination warranted a deeper investigation of petroleum chemistry, soil attributes, and biological activity at these sites. Petroleum chemistry analysis revealed the heterogeneous contamination at each site, with higher levels observed at the upgradient sites, which were situated further from the nearby freshwater Imikpuk Lake. Additionally, soil biological data tests showed an active microbial community, including high bacterial numbers in these soils. The results from this baseline study indicate that stimulating biodegradation processes in petroleum-contaminated soils is a promising technology for bioremediation. DISCLAIMER: The contents of this report are not to be used for advertising, publication, or promotional purposes. Citation of trade names does not constitute an official endorsement or approval of the use of such commercial products. All product names and trademarks cited are the property of their respective owners. The findings of this report are not to be construed as an official Department of the Army position unless so designated by other authorized documents.
Characterization of soil properties typically requires time-intensive, ground-based sampling. Therefore, technologies that allow for rapid assessment of particular attributes would be greatly beneficial. One example is Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, which uses an infrared spectrum to qualitatively identify a variety of compounds in solid, liquid, or gaseous samples. This study investigated the infrared reflectance signatures of peat and mineral soil samples with varying amounts of organic matter and coupled FTIR spectroscopy with a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) to more accurately identify and quantify soil organic matter (SOM). Clear differences were observed between the soil and peat FTIR spectral profiles. When compared to traditional analysis by loss on ignition, the coupled TGA-FTIR method resulted in an underestimation of the percent SOM for peat samples and an overestimation of the percent SOM in mineral soil samples. These results may have been influenced by low sample mass and moisture present in the sample. In total, our project results show that FTIR measurements provide a rapid yet qualitative means of assessing sample organic matter versus mineral content, but the TGA-FTIR measurement capability needs more refinement before it can be used for qualitative SOM measurements.
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